Carpal spavin is a degenerative form of osteoarthritis located at the junction of the medial splint bone (the inside part) and the second carpal (knee) joint. Not only does this result in crippling lameness, but quality of life issues often lead to euthanasia of affected horses. At the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas, Nev., Spen

Seventy percent of vets surveyed use corticosteroids in their intra-articular therapeutic strategy, usually combined with another medications, such as hyaluronic acid (HA) or the antibiotic amikacin. For 22%, personal experience is relevant as to which intra-articular corticosteroid they select. Scientific data on efficacy determines what medication 38% use. For high-motion joints

Stem cell therapy has been used for soft tissue injuries, including stifle meniscal lesions following surgical debridement, and for treating tendon injuries. Bone marrow-derived stem cells are reported to achieve improved bone and cartilage effects as compared to fat-derived stem cells. It takes two to three weeks from the time marrow cells are collected from a horse’s pelvis or sternum

Polyglycan, the novel formulation made up of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (HACSAG), is labeled for intra-articular post-surgical lavage and replacement of synovial fluid. It is not currently marketed or approved as a drug in the United States, although it is manufactured here in an FDA-inspected and -approved facility. Treatment goals for osteoarthritis are to

Changes in equine critical care are in large part due to improved skills, training, and experience of practitioners that facilitate expeditious case assessment. In today’s electronic world, this is coupled with networking opportunities to obtain information and guidance from other clinicians. Also noteworthy are the improved availability of tools for rapid diagnosis and improved qual

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in which the whole body is in an inflammatory state due to the presence of a known or suspect bacterial infection. The evolution and future of sepsis treatment in the horse was described by Pamela Wilkins, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, held Dec. 5-9 in Las V

Just 20 years ago, overall equine survival of surgical colic hovered at 39-48% due to anesthetic complications and breakdown of surgical incisions. Recent overall survival rates range from 55-95%, dependent on timely intervention and clinician/hospital experience. Postoperative management has taken great strides with improved patient monitoring, stabilization of cardiovascular status, and car

Tips on proper prepurchase examinations for horses in Western performance disciplines. The horse’s physical condition, disposition/attitude, and soundness should be evaluated by your veterinarian before the sale.

For more than 150 years veterinarians have been performing prepurchase exams, also referred to as vetting, purchase exams, and soundness exams. The definition of “sound” in England in 1842 implied “an absence of disease or seeds of disease” as a qualification for being used for an intended purpose, noted Steve Soule, VMD, who gave a presentation on the subject

Musculoskeletal injuries abound in horses, and there are many strategies to manage them besides confining a horse and waiting it out. Ask your veterinarian about therapeutic modalities/therapy equipment that can help your horse return expediently to maximum performance.